Welcome back to The Apocrypha, beloved reader! This week in our exclusive newsletter we’re going to be talking through my top tips for writing a winning query letter, and using the query that won me my agent as an example!
I’ve had a long and winding road to where I am in publishing now, but a big step on that road was partnering with my current agent in fall 2020. I work with Tara Gilbert at KT Literary and truly could not be happier. Tara is the perfect mix of congenial and professional, and they’re very canny about business and kind about my feelings, which works well for me.
I heard about 30 nos and struck out in a couple twitter pitch games before I got to Tara’s yes, which is not as tough of a situation as many querying authors go through, but it still took patience and pivoting my query as I received feedback. So, let’s take a look at the final product and then we’ll dive into my tips!
The Breakdown
Hi [Agent],
The day David Aristarkhov’s occultist father died, David bought himself an Audi, drank every drop of liquor in the house, and abandoned his life as a teen psychic prodigy. Now pushing thirty, David is a Boston attorney and recovering alcoholic who’s kicked his family’s magical reputation—but not his craving for the supernatural. Moonlighting as a medium for a secret society scratches that itch. Even if his ex-boyfriend Rhys’ machiavellian bid for High Priest is getting under his skin.
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